Ashford (Middlesex) Hockey Club

Goal scorer:
Gordo (2), Amit, Ryan Holland

Part 2 in my advice to young aspiring hockey professionals (part 1 was don’t eat a curry the day before big game) is don’t attend a function with a free bar the night before a big game - 9 times out of 10 it’s going to end in tears. OK this happened to be the 1 time in 10 it didn’t although the person in question was sick an hour before the game, he did score his first league goals of the season as the 4’s notched up their first points in 8 games!!

As usual we gave the oppo the lead but at least we kept it to 1 goal this time and then equalised fairly quickly as Coach slapped a good cross in and Gordo deflected in from 5 foot (and then had to go off). Play was fairly even but we looked reasonable only to go behind early in the 2nd half. Rhino scored a very nice goal a few minutes later making room for himself and reverse-stick smacking it home surprising their keeper. This was the key to us going onto win the game - equalising quickly - as we dominated the rest of the game. We took the lead when Adam unleashed a bazooka exocet missile of a free hit - he makes Big John from MK hits look like paper bag efforts - and Gordo deflected in from 2 feet - and cue his most manly squeal. Amit smacked in a short corner when their defence dared Amit to score - and he did - so a much-needed win and back in touch with the rest of the strugglers - and remember kids - Just Say No….

Goal scorer:
Shaggy

Our habit of only starting when we had conceded 2 goals went one better as we were 3 down after 20 minutes and things were not looking good. We found some backbone and play and held them until half time.

Second half we were much better and were in the game although Witney were the stronger outfit. Should have had a penalty when Gordo was bundled over just as he was about to miss a good chance and then Shaggy scored with a neat reverse-stick shot from a short corner rebound. Not a bad performance but not a good one.

Goalscorers:
Shaggy

Our habit of only starting when we had conceded 2 goals went one better as we were 3 down after 20 minutes and things were not looking good. We found some backbone and play and held them until half time. Second half we were much better and were in the game although Witney were the stronger outfit. Should have had a penalty when Gordo was bundled over just as he was about to miss a good chance and then Shaggy scored with a neat reverse-stick shot from a short corner rebound. Not a bad performance but not a good one.

After a weeks break Ashford recommenced their Premier league programme with an away fixture at Harrow, the club one place above them in the league. Due to work commitments, coach MANDY WAIN wasn’t able to travel with the team and things were became even more disruptive before the game for the Red & Blacks, when it was discovered that goalkeeper SAM GRANT had left a vital personal part of her equipment back in her car at Ashford. Thus one of the squad was dispatched back to collect it, whilst the rest of the team and SAM warmed up as best they could.

The set backs did not seem to affect Ashford too much though as they played some good flowing hockey in the first quarter of what was a very open game. The return of youngster LIV YOUNG up front brought a bit more punch to the Red & Blacks front line, whilst the experienced JACKIE PARSONS was having her best game of the season at the back. In the second part of the first half, Ashford kept the momentum up and created numerous chances and were unlucky not to convert any into goals. Unfortunately their concentration lapsed a little just before the break, and they allowed the visitors in to score the opening goal of the game. Thus it was somewhat disappointing that the Red & Blacks went into half time 1-0 down.

The second half started similar to the first and Ashford were once again putting the Harrow goal under pressure and they secured several short corners as a result. The newly practiced corner routines were working well for the Red & Blacks though and after a first time shot was saved, left midfielder STACEY KENWARD followed up well to score her first goal of the season and more importantly, secure the equaliser for Ashford. Things then got even better for the Red & Blacks, when continued pressure resulted in another short corner from which sweeper JACKIE PARSONS hammered home on of her trademark, thunderbolt strikes to put Ashford deservedly 2-1 ahead. Unfortunately shortly after scoring the Ashford Player of the Match JACKIE PARSONS got a nasty blow on her ankle and had to leave the pitch. As the game came to a close skipper LAURA SAMOUEL was all ready to celebrate their first away victory of the season. Alas with only three minutes of the game left, Ashford unfortunately conceded a penalty flick, which Harrow duly converted to snatch a late equaliser and leave the Red & Blacks disappointed.

Next week Ashford have to travel to nearby Teddington to take on their 2nd XI who are currently top of the league. Coach MANDY WAIN will be back to help direct operations though and if they can maintain their good team work and keep working for each other, Ashford will be aiming to gain at least another point.

Team:
S. Grant (GK), S. Smart, K. Fry, E. Hynes, A. Protheroe, E., T. Holland, J. Parsons, J. Bashford, S McGlinley, L Samouel (Captain), S. Kenward, O. Young

Ashford were at home to local rivals PHC Chiswick on Saturday with their normal squad supplemented by South African newcomer ‘Ernie’. In warm conditions Ashford opened well and played some positive hockey to put the visitor’s goalkeeper under pressure from the start. This resulted in them securing their first short corner after only three minutes of play. The new combination of ANNA PROTHEROE pushing out, skipper LAURA SAMOUEL stick stopping and JACKIE PARSONS striking worked well, with JACKIE’S hard strike going just wide of the left post. Further Ashford attacks quickly followed, along with another short corner, which saw SHARON McGLINLEY going close. It was therefore much against the run of play that the Red & Blacks allowed the visitors to gain a short corner and then slack defending let them score from the rebound and thus putting PHC Chiswick 1-0 ahead. Despite the set back, Ashford rallied and kept playing good hockey, prompted well by midfielders ANNA PROTHEROE, LAURA SAMOUEL, TRACEY HOLLAND and STACEY KENWARD. Numerous good forays on the visitor’s goalmouth followed, with STACEY KENWARD, LAURA SAMOUEL and JACKIE BASHFORD all creating chances and getting close to securing the equaliser. Meanwhile at the back Ashford goalkeeper SAM GRANT and defenders KIM FRY, SOPHIE SMART and EMMA HYNES dealt well with everything that the Chiswick midfield and forwards created. Thus it was somewhat disappointing that the Red & Blacks failed went into the break still 1-0 down.

During the interval Ashford lost the services of defender KIM FRY, who had bravely played on during most of the first half, despite having a badly damaged finger on her right hand. Ashford were thus left without a substitute for the rest of the game. The pattern of play in the second half was very similar to the first with Ashford being the more dominant side. However, it wasn’t until twelve minutes into the half that the Red & Blacks made any real inroads to the visitor’s goalmouth and in the several short corners that followed, Ashford failed to sort out their routine correctly and no shots and/or goals resulted. In fact it was Chiswick who went closest to scoring when one of their short corners went narrowly wide. Ashford kept trying though and a sweeping move between JACKIE PARSONS and TRACEY HOLLAND saw the effervescent STACEY KENWARD going close. Shortly afterwards one of the Ashford midfielders was given a very harsh green card by the visiting umpire following a tackle which resulted in Ashford being awarded a free hit! Although they were down to ten players for the next ten minutes, Ashford kept the tempo up and some more short corners followed, but despite all their efforts the Red & Blacks just didn’t seem to be able to get the ball over the goal line. As the game drew to a close and Ashford returned to a full compliment of players, they finally got the equaliser they richly deserved, when SHARON Mc GLINEY scored from close in following good work by JACKIE PARSONS and ANNA PROTHEROE. The score remained at 1-1 for the closing minutes and as a result of their point, the Red & Blacks moved up one place in the League to eighth position and youngster ANNA PROTHEROE was deservedly voted Man of the Match. There are no league matches for any of the Ashford sides next week, so the next 1st XI game is away against Harrow, the team one place above them in the League, on November 3rd.

Team:
S. Grant (GK), S. Smart, K. Fry, E. Hynes, A. Protheroe, ‘Ernie’, T. Holland, J. Parsons, J. Bashford, S McGlinley, L Samouel (Captain), S. Kenward

Saturday 13th October, the sun was shining and Staines were coming to Short Lane for our 3rd league game of the year. With key personnel back in the team following last week’s tight loss to newly promoted Winchester, we went into the warm up full of confidence and vigour. All except Charlie Cottrell of course who was suffering with a cronic case of ‘gut rot’ after eating too many chips the night before. Still, Ashford started brightly attacking down the left through Mark Rake and Carl Meadows testing out the Staines defences.

A quick Staines counter-attack was well dealt with by ‘Digger’ Barnes and Dulux at the back, quickly feeding the ball into Meadows at left half. With the Staines defence backing off, Meadows continued the run, feeding captain ‘Washer’ in the ‘D’ to cooly slot the ball through the keepers legs - what a start! 1-0 to Ashford! However, Staines rallied and Ashford began to fall back only inviting Staines further into our ‘D’.

A series of short corners and attacks were repelled well by Dan in goal but it was no surprise that Staines levelled following a break down via Digger’s foot - and things were only worsened a few minutes later when Staines took the lead with a free flowing move straight through our midfield. We were rightly punished for not tracking back hard enough. Still, Ashford can rally as well as Staines and the free flowing game continued. We started to win back territory with some fantastic work up front by Joe Lewis (can anyone stop him?), Matt Emmerton and Ed Green and although slightly controversial, Ashford scored the equaliser 10 minutes before half time through Man-of-the-match Washer. Another chance went begging for Washer as he skied his short corner effort but still, half time came, two all - a fair reflection of a very good half.

The 2nd half of course, continued in very much the same way with both teams looking to attack down the flanks. Ashford started aggressively and following a slick move down the Staines right, Washer won a penalty strock off the defence for deliberate back stick. ‘Digger’ Barnes cooly slotted it away. 3-2 to Ashford and still plenty of time in the game. Time, which Staines used very well to stretch the game down the Ashford flanks to look for short corners - their strength - which we’d done well to repell so well to this point. Staines won some legitiamate ones and more than a fair share of ‘dubious’ corners but still, you have to take your chances - and they did - TWICE!
And that unfortunately is how the game finished - Neither team deserved to lose, neither to win - a draw was a fair reflection that both teams played some fantastic hockey and the competive edge was reflected by only 1 green card to Staines. Still, another performance to be proud of for Ashford 2s who are starting to make some real steps in their play and starting to show their true potential as a team. we travel to Brighton this week for yet another tough test.

Man of the match:
Ben Washer

Goalscorers:
Ben Washer (2)
Andrew Barnes (1S)

The 5’s were 2 for 2 going into this match and were buoyed by the return of ‘Captain Coach’ (somewhat under-enthusiastically). The order of the day was to continue to build on solid performances and take our chances when they came.

South Bucks started the game the better side and dominated early possession, Ashford then began to achieve a foothold in the game, this coincided with Coach removing himself from the pitch due to running out of diesel. Then came the moment of truth, a masterstroke by the Ashford skip bringing himself on up front and within minutes converting. Fantastic play by Sandy Bedi on the left and the finish applied from all of 2 yards, 1-0 to the 5’s and that’s the way it stayed until half-time.

The performance hadn’t reached the heights of last week, yet we were still comfortable. The half-time team talk was once again about weathering any early storms and then taking contol of the game, however the hurricane that was expected turned out to be ‘light drizzle with a gentle breeze’. Ashford took firm grip on the second half and won a string of shorties. Those elder statesmen will remember ‘Old Glory’ and the 5’s rendition proved useful as both an option and a fake. The first short used ‘OG’ - the Smith connection to Coach, Coach to Smith, the drag flick and a fine save. The second short was not switched and Smith applied a thunder bolt finish. The third was like the second another solid hit, which thumped the back boards. Smith then allowed fellow centre back Bhups to have a crack at the next, unfortunately Bhups managed only to find the top right corner. Our fifth shortie of the half gave Adam his hat-trick of shorts with a flick into the corner. South Bucks gained a consolation with probably the goal of the game, but I’ll gloss over that. Good performance once again and long may it continue, over to Feltham rema… Sorry Feltham Community College for our next battle against Sonning.

Goalscorers
Ian McAllan
Adam Smith (3)

In their first home game of the season Ashford entertained north London side Winchmore Hill & Enfield, who before the game were placed a couple of positions higher than the Red & Blacks in the Middlesex Premier League. Ashford first team and Club Coach MANDY WAIN was able to field an unchanged side for the game, but due to illness, the squad was reduced to twelve players only.

In warm, almost summer conditions, the visitors started the game the best, but the well organised Ashford defence soaked up the early pressure and kept them at bay for the first quarter of the game. Ashford then started to build some attacks of their own and the whole team were combining well, and they were not afraid to move the ball around and across the back where needed and the score thus remained at 0-0 until just before half time. However, on the stroke of half time the visitors were awarded a short corner and their resulting strike was unfortunately deflected by an Ashford defender into their own net to make the score 1-0 in favour of the visitors.

Not surprisingly, the visitors started the second half on a high and they went further ahead when they secured a second goal after seven minutes of play. The Red & Blacks battled back well though and continued to show some good team work, and they were duly rewarded when they scored a goal ten minutes from the end of the game. Striker SHARON McGLINLEY’s took a shot at goal which was deflected into the net by a Winchmore defender. The goal lifted Ashford’s spirits and with the score at 2-1, they pressed hard for the equaliser. Numerous attacks were mounted and youngster LIV YOUNG made several penetrating runs on goal, but none of the Ashford attacks were converted into goals and the score remained at 2-1 until the final whistle. Defender EMMA HYNES was voted Player of the Match in a game in which Ashford played well, but came away with no League points for their efforts.

Next week the Red & Blacks travel to Pinner, to play Eastcote Ladies 2nd XI who are currently placed second in the league. It will be a difficult game for Ashford, but if they can continue to combine well as a team and maintain their good defensive play, the results will surely come.

Team
S. Grant (GK), S. Smart, K. Fry, E. Hynes, A. Protheroe, O. Young, T. Holland, J. Parsons, J. Bashford, S McGlinley, L Samouel (Captain), S. Kenward

A strange day for the 5’s as their inspirational leader was hauled into the 4’s. Could the 5th XI band wagon role on? After giving some instructions and encouragement before the game the first 25 minutes turned into a bit of a blur (probably because I was getting changed after the 4’s game), but I arrived with the team 1-0 through what I hear was a superhuman goal from Mr Bob Billins. We looked confortable and as the 1st half drew to a close we managed to snatch a second with some good work (again) from Bob and Greenie linking up, a good save from the keeper and Greenie finishing for a deserved 2-0 lead.

More of the same please was the order of the day, but after 5 minutes of the second period a miss-hit 16 led to Ramgarhia having the chance chance to pull one back, which they dually converted… The pressure was on, but the frantic pace was too much for the Ramgarhia right sided player, who was greened for a poor tackle and then yellowed for an even poorer challenge on our favourite MEP - Mr Robert Evans. Umpire Sherpa then pulled out a classic umpiring line stating “I think you’d better put a top on” as the lad trudged off…

So it was 10 Vs 11 for the next 20 minutes or so, but a spate of short corners could’ve led the home team to an equaliser at any time. Thankfully it didn’t and credit must go to the Ashford rearguard who have provided me with a massive selection headache. After 2 games the 5’s are now halfway to reaching their season total for last year, can the streak continue away to South Bucks next week?

Man of the match
Bob Billins

Goalscorers
Bob Billins
Dave Greenfield

A fantastic effort from a very young team saw an undeserved result away to Leighton Buzzard. With just four adult players, including a keen dad and our usual umpire, the odds were against us from the start, but we weren’t going down without a fight. A much disputed first goal gave LB the lead early on, with the VC being less than happy with the umpire’s decisions in the preceeding passage of play.

Finding ourselves 3-0 down at half time spurred the team on, and both young and older battled hard in the second half, frustrating the LB captain and his team. Swift passing, good ball-retention but nobody to put a finish on the excellent build-up was frustrating, but neither colt nor adult let their heads drop.

Wave after wave of Ashford attacks came to nothing, and the dissapointment was made worse when we conceeded a short mid-way through the second half. A well struck shot on goal made it 4-0. But we kept on, and some more fantastic link up play down the flanks got some promising positions, but still the final ball evaded us. Twice catching us on the break, the LB front line scored another 2 to push the tally to 6, but a fantastic performance from the team meant the captain wasn’t too disheartened be the result - and the final 20 mins of the rugby in the club house made the pill a little less bitter.

With Winchester coming off the back of a strong season last year to gain promotion without losing a game and Ashford suffering the loss of some key personnel, the game was set up to be a tough and thrilling encounter. The game started with a flurry of short corners at both ends with neither side able to put the finishing touches on positive play. It took a lapse in composure in an inexperienced defensive line to create the breakthrough, Winchester capitalising on a turnover ball to calmly finish past a helpless keeper.

Ashford responded well with Carl Meadows making some impressive runs down the left flank and a period of good play from the away side was rewarded when young Billy Bassett played a ball into the D, an attacker getting to the ball before the Winchester keeper and in the end leaving the Man of the Match Joe Lewis with the simplest of tap-ins. Unfortunately for Ashford they weren’t level for long as Winchester capitalised on another turnover ball to score their second. It then took an impressive save from the Ashford keeper Dan Appleyard to keep the red and blacks in the game, his cat like reflexes and uncanny agility awing the crowd.

In the second half there were chances again for both sides but this time it was Winchester who were lucky to still be in the game - a jinking run from a young James Maitland, beating 3 players on his way from the halfway line was followed by an effort that had the keeper beaten only to hit the inside of the post and avoid the other Ashford forward on the rebound. Positive pressure again from Ashford created another clear cut opportunity with Maitland narrowly missing the left post with a strike from the top of the D. Unfortunately time ran out for Ashford and Winchester clung on for the win, a result that is perhaps harsh on the losing side and sets up an interesting return clash.

Man of the match
Joe Lewis

Goalscorers
Joe Lewis

People were anxiously scanning the skies for rents in the space/time
continuum as the normal score between these 2 teams was achieved
- 4-2 - but Team Ashford had got the 4 goals!!!

Very pleasing and slightly surprising result of our first game in MMBO 3
as we beat last years champions of div 4 for the first time in 3 seasons.
Our side had a different look with 14-year-olds Ian Doggett making his
debut in goal and Freddie Cottrell starting in midfield and Dutchie
Holland’s dodgy hamstring (or whatever) allowing him to play.
SB were without 3 of their luminaries and this allowed us to start
stronger and brighter and we were soon 2 up through Dutchie, the
first a lovely goal lifing the ball high over the onrushing keeper, the
second finishing off a short corner move.

To be honest, we should have made the game safe before halftime but
conspired to let them back in the game as the half ended 2-1.
The half time talk was fantastic - don’t be complacent, up the energy,
pass and move hockey, go for goals….unfortunately this translated into
10 minutes of dreadful hockey which saw us ship an equaliser and
up the stressometer to an unhealthy level! However we then settled down
and dominated the rest of the game - Amit lamped in a short corner
and then Rhino got the goal his performance and tenacity deserved and
not trying to undercut it first-time!! Excellent start to the season!!

Goalscorers
D Holland (2)
R Holland
A Bhamra

Team Ashford were anxiously scanning the skies for a temporal anomaly that might reverse the polarity of this result but unfortunately nothing could save us from the 5-1 drubbing we took at the hands of a more-than-useful Ram Sabha 2nd team. We expected them to be more skilful but they were fitter and had younger legs than anticipated and the first half was very difficult for us but we defended well as a team. Ant Appleyard playing his first game in goal since breaking his wrist had an excellent game, one reaction save to his right was outstanding. We had 2 chances in the half - the first, Coach batted a bouncing ball against the crossbar (never seen him hit it that hard at Cricket) and then we got our only shortie and Amit gave it some helmet to put us one-up. Unfortunately they equalised straightaway and the half ended one-all.

Second half we needed to keep tham at bay for 10 minutes and let their frustration and not-as-fit-as-us-ness get to them - sadly we fell apart a bit and they scored 3 times with a soft fourth not long after.

With the game gone, we kept our heads up and played our best hockey of the game, playing it around and controlling the game without looking incisive. All in a not a bad performance but brings home the fact we are in a league of mainly of 1’s and 2’s teams - still one major result was the ‘tea’ which was our national dish and lots of it….best I’ve had for years!….

Goalscorers
A Bhamra

A dreary early morning welcomed the Ashford 5th XI as they looked to start their season on the right note. Ashford, stout and rotund in places, lined up against an unfamiliar looking Eastcote 8’s. The Ashford team introduced 3 new faces including Bhups who has joined us from Hayes and U14’s Dasmesh Sandhu and Alex Betts, all making thier 5’s league debuts.

Eastcote started the game, but it was Ashford that opened the scoring with a good move down the right, a dumby pass and Matty Samoels finishing nicely on the reverse side. Ashford began to play the hockey and won a string of short corners. The 4th XI switch-right was the base of many efforts and soon enough it was 2-0 with Samoels ejecting to McAllan (Coach for those who are not aware), Coach slipping right to Rosey who laid back perfectly to Coach for a incisive slapped finish. Ashford made it 3-0 soon after with a nice solo effort from Rosey who had been making the Eastcote keeper work overtime throughout the 1st half, good goal and 3-0. Minutes before the break a lapse of concentration allowed Eastcote to make it 3-1 and the half-time team talk needed some adjusting.
The half-time team talk was about avoiding complacency and straight from the restart we managed to throw those comments out of the window. A poor pass on the Ashford right let in Eastcote who worked the ball well and made it 3-2, well against the run of play. It took Ashford another 5 minutes to settle into the second half, but once they did they didn’t look back. The goals began to flow with Rosey finishing from an acute angle for the 4th, Matt Samoels made it 5-2 and Greenie finish with aplomb from half a yard to make the score 6-2. Ashford were then denied horrendously from a short as play was once again switched, this time to the left for Samoels to scoop his hat-trick. The umpire disallowed the goal but did not deny Matty his hat-trick as he finished late on from a well work move. 7-2 and not really a fair reflection of the game, Ashford had at least 20 chances and the Eastcote goalkeeper definitely kept the score semi-respectable. That leaves the 5’s with a nose bleed sitting on top of Division 7, next week a tough trip to play Ramgaria 3.

Goalscorers
Matt Samoels (3)
Ian McAllan
Daniel Rose (2)
Dave Greenfield